I’ve been writing for more years than I
care to think - and I have 67 titles in
my backlist. Some of them were wonderfully easy and wrote themselves (not too many, sadly) Others were harder – and yet
others so difficult, they were like pulling teeth to get the words down on the page. But somehow I’ve still kept writing - I know that giving up is the way to lose
any chance of being published. Over the years I’ve learned ways to tackle the
dreaded ‘writer’s block, to fight my way through it and make sure it doesn’t
totally overwhelm me. So I thought I’d
share with you some of the ways I’ve discovered that help me keep on keeping
on.

1.
Writing your way through it

BICHOK – bum in chair, hands on keyboard
: sit down at the computer and start
typing. At the end of the day you will have something- even if it’s only 100
words but that means you are 100 words further on than yesterday. And even ONE of those words might spark a new
idea or something that works and you
have to run with

Sometimes you have to stop
researching/planning/learning and just
jump in – you can always fill in factual details (if needed) later

2. Select a different scene

In general writing a book from start to
finish works best because the events you planned in your outline may change as
you write

But if you’re having trouble with a
particular scene and it’s stopping you from writing try moving on to the next
scene –seeing what has to have happened in retrospect! Or one that happens later in the book that
you have to work up to.

Or a love scene because they don’t change
so fundamentally except in MOOD

3. Looking
at the last scene you wrote.

Sometimes the problem isn’t the scene
you’re trying to write – it’s the previous scene, the one that sets this up.

Have you set it up ?

Or set it the right way?

Are you forcing this scene from something
that never happened?

The set-up scene may be further back –
several scenes ago – you need to look at that scene and see where you went
wrong. Where your characters went off track

4. Writing
a scene that you won’t use.

If you feel like you’re losing touch with
your characters write a scene that puts you in touch with them again – even if
it isn’t part of this story:

A ‘normal date’

Their 25th anniversary – what would they
look back on?

When they really talk – tell each other who
they are and find what they have in common.

Get it down on the page – you can always
rework/polish later – or even discard the scene but it will TELL you what your
characters need.

JUST KEEP WRITING

JUST TELL THE STORY

7. Looking
FORWARD- NOT BACK

Every writer works differently and there
isn’t a right or wrong way to work

But if you are not MOVING FORWARD because
you keep second-guessing the decisions you made in previous chapters you have
to tell yourself not to look back – and
move forward no matter what

8. Write scenes that MATTER - out of order – or just because

You can always go back and link them up
together later

But what do these scenes TELL YOU about
your CHARACTERS?

9. Analyse
your outline

Take a look at your story plan/outline –
what you planned to do

Ask does this make sense in terms of plot
and CHARACTER?

Looking at your outline now you know
characters better, you may see gaps, problems, times when you have FORCED them
into actions that are not right

Are you dictating the plot rather than your
characters?

10. Re-energising
your creative instincts

What drew you to this story in the first
place?

The characters?

A plot twist?

What story did you want to tell?

A romantic comedy? A drama? The fun of a complicated mystery
suspense plot?

Try taking a break from writing and immerse
yourself in a similar story plot or
atmosphere or mood wise

But don’t do that for too long!

11. Sleep
on it

Go to bed with the story in your head.

Eyes closed play the scene over in your
thoughts

‘Hear’ characters’ voices. You can wake up with the answer

12.
Idiot questions

Discuss the story with a trusted friend

Get them to make suggestions – just the fact of saying ‘no that wouldn’t
happen . . can spark you off again.

13. Tell
yourself the story – aloud

Use a tape/voice recorder to record yourself telling the story just as
you speak.

14. LEAVE
A SCENE AT A POINT YOU WANT TO CARRY ON

Don’t wind it all up at the end of the day

Give yourself a cliff-hanger like the
reader

IF ALL ELSE FAILS - start another project – but don’t keep on
starting – and stopping – and starting . . .
Sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and keep on with it.

I have a post it note that’s stuck on my
computer screen – it’s a message from a wonderful friend and a great writer
Michelle Reid. What she always used to say was:

JUST TELL THE STORY

And when I’m really struggling or stuck – that’s just what I do. I just tell the story. I can always go back
and edit/polish it late – but as Nora Roberts says you can edit a bad page. You
can’t edit a blank page!

Kate Walker's new book:

A Proposal to Secure His Vengeance (Harlequin Presents)

His preferred method?

Ruthless, irresistible seduction!

Imogen O’Sullivan is horrified when charismatic tycoon Raoul breaks up her engagement and makes her his own convenient bride! She once surrendered everything to Raoul—body, heart and soul. But as he stalks back into her life, it’s clear he has punishment in mind, not just passion! Can Imogen resist Raoul’s potent brand of delicious vengeance?

Hi - I'm glad you like that one. To be honest, it's one I sometimes manage without meaning to - I write a scene and then realise it does nothing more that flesh out the characters! But it teaches me things I needed to know.

Me too, Patsy - I'm easily distracted and lazy - but sometimes I realise it's a bit more than that and there is a block that's making me even more distracted than usual - and that's when I have to try these ideas to get writing again.

Hello Chrys - that writing a scene I won't use was a trick that got me out of a real mess a couple of times. Sometimes it gives you a real insight that you wonder why you never thought of it - and sometimes you end up actually using the scene!

Great advice Kate. Thank you. I always plot, so usually start at the begging of a story. However, for the first time I had to write the end of this book first. It was that or nothing - and I loved it. Yes, it's good to try new ways of writing.

Hi Madalyn - good to see you here. I sometimes wish I could plot and plan - but it has a nasty habit of making me feel I've 'told' the story already. Though there is one book - Saturday's Bride - that I had to write the ending before the beginning - and then work backwards on it! (You'll have to see the book to find out why!)

Thank you - sleeping on things is always a good idea. And I do find that talking with my husband - who does not know a lot about romance! can really help. If only because I say 'No . . .not that . . .' and then have to put something else in its place!